Thursday, January 30, 2020

Weaving Alice - a short story - FREE in the Kindle Store this weekend

Weaving  Alice is a short story about a meeting on earth between personified good and evil.


Amazon Link to Weaving Alice






Imagine, if you will, a mystical, magical gift of tapestry creation powerful enough to eradicate the evil in our world.  This is the gift that Alice possesses.

The story of good versus evil is told in an attention-holding manner.  I had a lot of pleasure writing this suspenseful story and I hope you will enjoy it; especially the surprise ending.

Weaving Alice enjoys  a five star Amazon rating.   Here is a copy of a couple of its reviews.



Reviewed in the United States on October 9, 2013
Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase



 
Reviewed in the United States on June 17, 2014
Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase









Top international reviews


CJ
5.0 out of 5 stars Short story
Reviewed in Canada on May 10, 2014
Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase




Thursday, January 23, 2020

Wearing my other hat ........

This writer is also available in Elliot Lake as a psychospiritual practitioner.

There is currently one space available on Tuesday mornings at nine a.m.  If you are interested in pursuing meaningful, insightful, transformational, one-on-one, personal growth counseling sessions then please don't hesitate to get in touch.

I will meet you where you are, emotionally and spiritually.   Our work together will focus on women's issues and there are many, as we all know.  But no mountain is too high to climb; no valley too low to explore.   I'm reminded that it's easier to see the light in a dark room.   

This effective, affordable, empowering counseling service is available to women who reside in Elliot Lake.

"God grant me the serenity to accept the people I cannot change; courage to change the one I can; and the wisdom to know it's me."

audrey@persona.ca

Also I am currently preparing for our "Getting High On Life - Spring 2020 Workshop for Women" happening May 11th here in Elliot Lake.   Topic will be announced after voting takes place.  If you wish to submit your suggestion for workshop topic, please do, and I will add it to the growing list.  




Wednesday, January 22, 2020

Jacob's Seven Letters - free this weekend in the Kindle Store



Jacob's Seven Letters is a short story, one that I felt inspired to write.  As a child Jacob suffers great losses.  This is a story of one man's journey in search of promise, hope, and redemption.

Jacob's Seven Letters is FREE for your reading enjoyment this weekend, January 25th and 26th.

Jacob's Seven Letters   Just click on this Amazon Link to take you to Jacob's story on my Amazon Author's page.

Jacob's mother dies.  His father does not; yet the relationship Jacob shares with his father dies a death of a different kind.  Grandmother is there to raise the boy and, when she dies too, Jacob feels abandoned.

It's no surprise that he gets into some difficulties in his life.  What is surprising is that the 'seven letters'  have a life-changing impact.

When I wrote this story I fell in love with Jacob. To me, he is the epitome of many young men struggling to find their way through an ever-changing world.

If you enjoyed this story, and I hope you will, check out my other short stories.  I have more than fifty short stories published, all with the focus on social issues, and you can purchase them individually or in one of my several short story anthologies all available exclusively on Amazon.

Amazon Author's Page


Saturday, January 18, 2020

So I call myself a writer ...

Okay, so I call myself a writer.  Why?  Because a writer writes!  And I love to write!

Consequently, in the past almost thirteen years since retirement, I've written twenty-one books; some novels, novellas, short story anthologies; poetry; and personal growth books.

My publisher used to be the beautiful author and friend; Maggie Kirton of Wynterblue Publishing Company.  She is still my greatest inspiration, and I remain always grateful for the WynLits that were the highlights of many weekends.   They were, to a very large extent, the best motivators on the planet.  

But now, I'm proud to say, I have learned how to self-publish, and I do so exclusively on Amazon.   I love self-publishing.  I truly enjoy being an independent author.  I adore writing, but I've also learned to really appreciate the world that opens to me while editing, formatting, and uploading manuscripts, while praying that readers will like what I've written.   And that they will want to buy another book that bears my name.

In addition to the paperback books, I have also published more than fifty short stories that dare, like Daniel, to stand alone in the Kindle store.

All my books are available exclusively  on Amazon.   And, so far, five of my novels have been transformed by incredibly talented people into audio books for your listening pleasure. These audio books are available on Amazon, Audibles, and Itunes.  These talented narrators include Earl Sewell, Falon Echo; John Carter Aimone; Kendra Murray; and Ralph Scott.

So what do I write about?

My reading tastes are eclectic.   No surprise to me that my writing tastes are also eclectic.  No two books are alike, however there is a common thread running through each of them; a thread that I'm sure most of my readers will identify.  And that is the frailty of humanity; the fears, the joys, the ups and the downs, experienced by the characters who tell their stories.  


I mostly love to write about ordinary people who, sometimes, have extraordinary experiences, but also about those who do not; but who, instead, live the quiet desperation of the everyday human experience and often wonder what on earth will take place next.  Often these characters cry out to the God of their understanding, in words of their own, "I can't take anymore! Will this never stop?" 

Mostly, I write stories that, in one way or another, are social issue related; not surprising since my background is that of a psychospiritual practitioner.   When I write, my focus is primarily on the wonderful characters who, after the first few pages, take me by the hand and say, "No, Audrey, we want to go this way.  Are you coming?"  And I accept their invitations and do my best to keep up with the characters as they tell their stories in their own way.

I'm greatly assisted by my dear mother who passed away many years ago.  She taught me, and is still teaching me, that if I want something done, I must simply begin.

And that is how I write.  I start with an idea ....and I simply begin typing with no idea  how or where the story will unfold and certainly with no idea how it will all end.

My books share some amazing book covers.  The good ones; the beautiful ones, are all designed by SusanRK of Yuneekpix     The others are designed by me with the assistance of Amazon.  

This past November, 2019, I participated in NaNoWriMo.  I succeeded in writing a novel length story.  Since that time I've been very busy editing, more editing, formatting, and doing everything I can think of to prepare this story for publication.  The story is titled  The Observer - His eye is on the Sparrow.  This story is a work of fiction.

I consider myself to be more of a spiritual person as opposed to being a religious one, however many of the characters in my books do share their faith and beliefs or lack therein.  Some characters are searching; some are totally enmeshed; while others display no interest in a higher power at all.  My characters are human with all the good, the bad, and the ugly, that we are each made of.

However, in this, my latest story which will be released soon and for which a launch party will be happening late spring/early summer of 2020 in Elliot Lake, my home town, religion plays a major role.  This is a first for me!

In fact three generations of women, yet two souls, share their stories.  And their stories revolve around their Christian and their Hindu religions and beliefs.  What a pleasure it was for me to meet these three women throughout my NaNo experience.  How kind they were to share their stories with me so that I could, in turn, share them with you.  And, yes, there is a love story being woven throughout the pages as well.

I can't post a picture because there is no cover design yet, but it's coming soon.   

However, below, I will post a photo of the four major locations in which the story unfolds. The locations  are Elliot Lake, Ontario; Bangalore, India; Toronto, Ontario; and Devanahalli, India.

Thank you always for buying one of my books from any Amazon site.  My Amazon author's page is found at https://amazon.com/author/audreyaustin

I truly enjoy creative writing.  It's my passion.   I hope you will enjoy reading what I write.

Thanks for watching for the release of my latest "The Observer - His Eye is on the Sparrow"

City of Bangalore, India


City of Elliot Lake, Ontario, Canada


Village of Devanahalli, India (a bazaar)


City of Toronto, Ontario, Canada (CN Tower)